Heat exchanger with receiver tank

ABSTRACT

In a heat exchanger with a receiver tank, a coupling member and an adapter member constitute a connecting member that connects the receiver tank and the heat exchanger, where the connecting member has header connecting portions respectively connected with a concentrating part and a supercooling part of one of headers and the adapter member is connected with the connecting member and the receiver tank and is detachably attached to the receiver tank. The coupling member is assembled with a first divided member and a second divided member, where the first divided member is formed with header connecting portions to be connected with the second divided member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a heat exchanger with a receiver tank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventional heat exchangers with a receiver tank are disclosed in Japanese patent applications Laid-open publication No. 2003-240386 and No. 11-2475. They have a pair of headers, a plurality of tubes which is arranged between the headers and is fluidically connected with the headers at its both end portions, respectively, a heat exchanging main part, and a receiver tank fluidically connected with a concentrating part and a supercooling part of one of the headers of the heat exchanger through a connecting member.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problem(s) to be Solved by the Invention

The conventional heat exchangers with the receiver tanks, however, have problems increasing a manufacturing cost and weight of the connecting member because the connecting member is formed of metal material to be shaped like a block as one unit, by using an extrusion process and a machining process, and consequently leaving unavoidable residual material on a portion thereof unnecessary for its function.

In addition, the connecting member and the header are normally fixed to each other by brazing, which causes bad or poor brazing because of delay in temperature rise and fall thereof in a heating furnace due to increase in mass of the connecting member.

The present invention is made to solve the problems, and its object is to provide a heat exchanger with a receive tank that can decrease a manufacturing cost and weight of a connecting member for connecting the receiver tank and a heat exchanging main part with each other, the connecting member allowing the receiver tank to be detachably attached to the heat exchanging main part.

Means for Solving the Problems

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a heat exchanger with a receiver tank including a pair of headers, a plurality of tubes and a receiver tank. Each of the pair of headers is divided into a concentrating part and a supercooling part by a plurality of partition plates, and the plurality of tubes is arranged between the headers and has both end portions fluidically connected with the headers, respectively. The receiver tank is fluidically connected with the concentrating part and the supercooling part of one of the headers through a connecting member. The connecting member has a coupling member and an adapter member, where the coupling member has header connecting portions that are fluidically connected with the concentrating part and the supercooling part of the one of the headers, respectively, and the adapter member is fluidically connected with the coupling member and the receiver tank and is detachably attached to the receiver tank. The coupling member has a first divided member having the header connecting portions and a second divided member coupled with the first divided member.

Preferably, at least the first divided member of the first and second divided members is a press formed product made of a metal plate.

Preferably, the first divided member and the second divided member are formed like semi-circular cylinders with bottom portions and are coupled with each other to form the coupling member having the bottom portions and shaped like a circular cylinder. The coupling member is formed at an opening end portion thereof with an adapter-member connecting portion for receiving the adapter member.

Preferably, the concentrating part and the supercooling part of the one of the headers are formed with communicating holes, respectively, and the header connecting portions are formed like cylinders projecting toward the one of the headers, and the header connecting portions are formed with stepped portions having vertical surfaces at intermediate portions thereof. The header connecting portions are fixed to the one of the headers, being inserted into the communicating holes, and the stepped portions contacting with an outer surface of the one of the headers.

Preferably, the header connecting portions are formed to have cross sections shaped in ellipses.

Preferably, a space is formed between the header connecting portions and the outer surface of the one of the headers.

Preferably, a connecting portion of the first divided member and the second divided member is provided with a positioning means for positioning the first and second divided members relative to each other.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

The heat exchanger with the receiver tank of the present invention includes the heat exchanging main part, which is divided into the concentrating part and the supercooling part, and the receiver tank which is fluidically connected through the connecting member with the concentrating part and the supercooling part of the one of the headers of the heat exchanging main part. The heat exchanging main part has the plurality of tubes that is arranged between the headers so that the both end portions thereof are fluidically connected with the headers, respectively. The connecting member has the coupling member and the adapter member, where the coupling member has the header connecting portions fluidically connected with the concentrating part and the supercooling part of the one of the headers, and the adapter member is fluidically connected with the coupling member and is detachably attached to the receiver tank. The coupling member has the first divided member formed with the header connecting portions, and the second divided member coupled with the first divided member.

Therefore, in the embodiment, the receiver tank can be detachably attached to the heat exchanging main part. In addition, the connecting member, connecting the receiver tank and the heat exchanging main part with each other, can be decreased in its manufacturing cost and weight because of removal of an unavoidable residual material on portions thereof unnecessary for its function.

At least the first divided member of the first and second divide members is made of the metal plate by using the press forming process. This enables the connecting member to be manufactured easily and at a low cost.

The first divided member and the second divided member are formed like the semi-circular cylinders having the bottom portions, and are coupled with each other to form the coupling member 11 that has the bottom and is formed like the cylinder shape, and the coupling member is formed with the adapter-member connecting portion for receiving the adapter member.

Therefore, the adapter-member connecting portion can be formed easily and at a low cost by using the first and second divided members coupled with each other.

In addition, the bottom of the coupling member does not need to be closed by using an additional lid part. Therefore, its manufacturing cost can be also decreased because the number of parts thereof can be decreased.

The concentrating part and the supercooling part of the one of the headers are formed with the communicating holes, respectively. The header connecting portions are projected toward the one of the headers to be inserted into the communicating holes of the tank plate, respectively, and they are formed at their intermediate portions with the stepped portions that have the vertical surfaces and are contacted with the outer surface of the one of the headers.

Therefore, the header connecting portions can be fixed to the one of the headers, being positioned relative to the one of the headers. In addition, they can be firmly fixed due to increase in contact area thereof, and accordingly the receiver tank can be stably fixed and supported.

The header connecting portions are formed to have cross sections shaped in ellipses. This enables the coupling member and the adapter member to be stably fixed to each other, relative to those having cross sections shaped in circles, in and after a brazing process.

The space is formed between the header connecting portions and the outer surface of the one of the headers. This decrease heat influence on the one of the headers in the brazing process, and accordingly they can be stably brazed with each other.

The positioning means is provided at the connecting portion of the first divided member and the second divided member in order to position them relative to each other.

Therefore, the first divided member and the second divided member can be fixed to each other, being positioned properly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description proceeds when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a heat exchanger with a receiver tank of an embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an upper portion of a header of the heat exchanger with the receiver tank of the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a lower portion of the header of the heat exchanger with the receiver tank of the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the upper portion of the header of the heat exchanger with the receiver tank of the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the lower portion of the header of the heat exchanger with the receiver tank of the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing an adapter member and a connecting member that connects the header and the receiver tank of the heat exchanger of the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the connecting member and the adapter member of the heat exchanger of the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the connecting member shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the connecting member shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view showing the receiver tank of the heat exchanger of the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a main portion of a connecting portion of the receiver tank and the header of the heat exchanger of the embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a first separated member and a tank plate, of the heat exchanger of the embodiment, are to be fixed to each other immediately before two jigs are inserted into the first separated member; and

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the first separated member and the tank plate are to be fixed with each other when the jig is inserted into the first separated member.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8 first to eighth partition plate,     respectively -   E1 concentrating part -   E2 supercooling part -   O space -   P1 first connector -   P2 second connector -   R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 first to sixth room, respectively -   1 heat exchanging main part -   2 receiver tank -   2 a main body -   2 b lid part -   3 connecting member -   4 first header -   5 second header -   6 core part -   7 tube plate -   7 a cut-off portion -   7 b projecting portion -   7 c tube-plate hole -   7 d reinforcement hole -   7 e supporting portion -   7 f cut-off portion -   7 g holding portion -   8 tank plate -   8 a opening portion -   8 b, 8 c communicating hole -   9 locking portion -   10 reinforcement -   11 coupling member -   11 a adaptor-member connecting part -   11 b bottom portion -   12 adaptor member -   12 a seal groove -   12 b groove -   12 c stepped portion -   12 d reduced diameter portion -   13 first divided member -   13 a side portion -   13 b, 13 c header connecting portion -   13 d stepped portion -   13 e fitting portion -   13 f bottom portion -   14 second divided member -   14 a edge portion -   14 b bottom portion -   15 connecting tube -   15 a flange portion -   15 b groove -   15 c, 15 d, 15 e seal groove -   16 a, 16 b connecting hole -   20 a stepped portion

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVETION

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment

A heat exchanger with a receiver tank of the embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the heat exchanger with the receiver tank of the embodiment according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an upper portion of a header, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a lower portion of the header, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the header, FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a connecting member, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the connecting member, FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a coupling member, FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the coupling member, FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of a portion of the receiver tank, FIG. 11 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main portion of the embodiment, and FIGS. 12 and 13 are views explaining connecting state of a tank plate and a first separated member.

First an entire construction of the heat exchanger with the receiver tank of the embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the heat exchanger HA of the embodiment includes a heat exchanging main part 1, the receiver tank 2 and a connecting member 3.

The heat exchanging main part 1 includes a pair of headers, namely a first header 4 and a second header 5, and a core part 6, where the first and second headers 4 and 5 are apart from each other in a lateral direction thereof (namely, a lateral direction of a motor vehicle when the heat exchanger HA is mounted on the motor vehicle), and the core part 6 is arranged between the first and second headers 4 and 5.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the first header 4 has a tube plate 7 having a cross section shaped like a U-letter, a tank plate 8 having a cross section shaped like a U-letter, and first to fourth partition plates D1, D2, D3 and D4 (The second partition plate D2 is shown in FIG. 1).

The tube plate 7 is formed longer in a longitudinal directional length than the tank plate 8, and it is formed with a pair of projecting portions 7 a and 7 b, each having cut-off portions 7 a, at its both end portions in the longitudinal direction.

The tube plate 7 is also formed with a plurality of tube holes 7 c for receiving end portions of tubes 6 a of the core part 6 and also with two reinforcement holes 7 d for receiving end portions of upper and lower reinforcements 10 a and 10 b.

On an inner surface of the tube plate 7, there is provided four pairs of supporting portions 7 e, which are formed like a semi-circular cylinder projecting inward from the inner surface thereof for holding end portions of the first to fourth partition plates D1 to D4, respectively, by each sandwiching a part of an upper surface and a part of a lower surface of each partition plate D1, D2, D3, D4. The tank plate 8 is formed with four opening portions 8, which faces the supporting portions 7 e of the tube plate 7, for respectively receiving four projecting locking portions 9 of the first to forth partition plates D1 to D4.

In addition, the tube plate 7 is formed with a plurality of pairs of holding portions 7 g, which are arranged apart from its adjacent ones at a certain distance. Each holding portion 7 g has a pair of cut-off portions 7 f at its upper side and its lower side, respectively, projecting from both side portions of the tube plate 7. The tank plate 8 is formed, at its lower portion, with first and second communicating holes 8 b and 8 c which are fluidically connected with the receiver tank 2 through a coupling member 11. The first and second communicating holes 8 b and 8 c have an elliptic shape that is slightly long in a vertical direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, the tube plate 7 and the tank plate 8 are faced to and contacted with each other, containing the first to fourth partition plates D1 to D4, and then they are coupled with each other by the holding portions 7 g of the tube plate 7 being bent inward to hold an outer surface of the tank plate 8 as shown in FIG. 5.

Consequently, the first to fourth partition plates D1 to D4 define three rooms, namely a second room R2, a fourth room R4 and a fifth room R5 in the tube plate 7 and the tank plate 8.

The second header 5 is formed bilaterally symmetrically to the first header 4, where an inside of the second header 5 is defined by the fifth to eighth partition plates D5 to D8 into three rooms, namely a first room R1, a third room R3 and a sixth room R6. A first connector P1 is provided to fluidically communicate with the first room R1, while a second connector P2 is provided to fluidically communicate with the sixth room R6.

The core part 6 has the plurality of tubes 6 a and a plurality of fins 6 b, where they are arranged alternately to each other and the both end portions of the tubes 6 a are inserted into the corresponding tube-plate holes 7 c to be fixed to the tube plate 7. A pair of reinforcements 10 a and 10 b are arranged at an upper side and a lower side of the core part 6 to connect the upper and lower end portions of the first and second headers 4 and 5, which are inserted into the reinforcement holes 7 d, thereby reinforcing the core part 6.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the connecting member 3 consists of the coupling member 11 and the adapter member 12, functioning to support the receiver tank 2 and also to fluidically communicate the forth room R4 and the fifth room 5 with an inside of the receiver tank 2.

As shown in FIG. 8, the coupling member 11 consists of a first divided member 13 and a second divided member 14, and they are coupled with each other to form like a circular cylinder with a bottom portion as shown in FIG. 9.

An opening end portion of the coupling member 11 is formed with an adapter-member connecting portion 11 a for receiving a reduced diameter portion 12 of the adapter member 12, and a bottom portion 11 b of the coupling member 11 is formed to have a gentle curve like an R-letter shape. Each of the first and second divided members 13 and 14 has a bottom portion and is formed like a semi-circular cylinder. The first divided member 13 is provided on its side portion 13 a with two header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c which are apart from each other in the vertical direction and have cross sections shaped like an ellipse, projecting from the side portion 13 a, so as to be insertable into the first and second communicating holes 8 b and 8 c of the tank plate 8, respectively.

The header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c are also formed to have cross sections shaped like an ellipse, and they are formed at their intermediate portions with a stepped portion 13 d having a vertical surface.

In the heat exchanger HB with the receiver tank of the embodiment, the second divided member 14 is partially fitted in the first divided member 14, where the first divided member 13 has fitting portions 13 e corresponding to an positioning means, and a bottom portion 13 f corresponding to a part of the bottom portion of the coupling member 11. The both side edge portions of the first divided member 13 are bent outwardly like an L-letter to form the fitting portions 13 e. On the other hand, the second divided member 14 has the both side edge portions 14 a corresponding to the positioning means, and a bottom portion 14 b corresponding to the rest of the bottom portion of the coupling member 11, where the side edge portions 14 a of the second divided member 13 are coupled with the fitting portions 13 e, respectively. In the embodiment, the side edge portions 14 a of the second divided member 14 are formed to be partially in no-contact with the fitting portions 13 e of the first divided member 13, while they are not limited to the above structure in the present invention.

The first and second divided members 13 and 14 are press-formed products, which are formed from aluminum plate with a thickness of approximately 1 to 2 mm that is press-formed by using a not-shown die.

The end portions of the header connecting portions 13 b are punched out to be opened in the press forming process, accurately a punching press forming process. Material, the thickness and others of the first and second divided members 13 and 14 may be set appropriately, for example, the first divided member 13 may be larger in thickness than the second divided member 14.

Therefore, although the first divided member 13 has a complicated configuration because of its header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c, it can be manufactured in a short time, easily and at a low cost, and accordingly manufacturing costs of the coupling member 11 can be held down.

In addition, it does not need an extrusion process or a machining process, thereby being compact and light in weight because of removal of an unavoidable residual material on portions thereof unnecessary for its function.

The first divided member 13 and the second divided member 14 may be manufactured by using a casting process or a forging process.

The adapter member 12 is formed like a circular cylinder as one unit, and it is formed with a first circular seal groove 12 a, in which a first seal member S1 is fitted, on an upper inner surface of the adapter member 12. On the inner surface thereof, a groove 12 b of an internal thread is also formed near and under the seal groove 12 a.

The adapter member 12 is formed with a reduced diameter portion 12 c at a lower end portion thereof.

Material and a thickness of the adapter member 12 may be set appropriately, and the positions and lengths of the grooves 12 a and 12 b may be also set appropriately.

In this embodiment, the adapter member 12 is obtained by a process in which an aluminum circular cylinder is machined by using a lathe or the like to a thickness of approximately 1 to 2 mm and then it is cut to form the grooves 12 a and 12 b thereon.

Since the adapter member 12 has a simple configuration, it can be easily manufactured with a relatively simple work.

As shown in FIG. 1, the receiver tank 2 consists of a circular-cylindrical main body 2 a, a lid part 2 b shaped like a disc for covering an upper portion of the main body 2 a, and a connecting pipe 15 shaped like a circular-cylinder and attached to a lower end portion of the main body 2 a. The main body 2 a contains inner structural parts such as a not-shown drying agent and a not-shown filter.

As shown in FIG. 10, the connecting pipe 15, which is attached to the lower end portion of the main body 2 a of the receiver tank 2, is formed on its outer surface with a flange portion 15 a projecting radially outwardly to contact with the lower end portion of the main body 2 a. It is also formed with a groove 15 b of an external thread for a certain length under the flange portion 15 b.

An upper portion of the connecting pipe 15 is provided at an upper side of the flange portion 15 a with a second circular seal groove 15 c, in which a second seal member S2 is fitted, and also with third and forth circular seal grooves 15 d and 15 e, in which a third seal member S3 and a fourth seal member S4 are respectively fitted, where the seal groove 15 d and the seal groove 15 e are set apart from each other in the vertical direction under the groove 15 b.

As shown in FIG. 11, the coupling member 11 is fixed with the first header 4 by the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c of the coupling member 11 being inserted into the first and second communicating holes 8 b and 8 c of the tank plate 8 of the first header 4, respectively. The coupling member 11 is fixed with the adapter member 12 by the stepped portion 12 d of the adapter member 12 being inserted into the adapter-member connecting portion 11 a of the coupling member 11.

The receiver tank 2 is fixed with the coupling member 11 by using the groove 12 b of the adapter member 12 and the groove 15 b of the connecting pipe 15 connected with the receiver tank 2 which are screwed together. The first, third and fourth seal members S1, S3 and S4 ensure liquid-tight fitting between the connecting pipe 15 and the adapter member 12.

As understood from the above description, the receiver tank 2 is detachably attached to the adapter member 12 and is fluidically communicated with the fourth room R4 and the fifth room R5 of the first header 4 through the adapter member 12 and the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c of the coupling member 11, respectively.

The heat exchanger HA with the receiver tank 2 of the embodiment is entirely made of aluminum, where at least ones of contacting portions of the members are provided with a clad layer, namely a brazing sheet.

The heat exchanger HA with the receiver tank 2 of the embodiment is manufactured as follows.

First the heat exchanging main part 1 is temporally assembled, and then the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c of the first divided member 13 are inserted into the first and second communicating holes 8 b and 8 c of the tank plate 8, respectively, so that the stepped portions 13 d of the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c contact with the outer surface of the tank plate 8.

Next, as shown in shown in FIG. 12, two jigs 20 are prepared. The jigs 20 are formed like an elliptic cylinder and have stepped portions 20 a with diameters larger than inner diameters of the first and second header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c, respectively. The jigs 20 are respectively inserted into the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c from an opening side of the first divided member 13 to fix the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c and the tank plate 8 with each other at its communicating holes 8 b and 8 c by radially-outwardly expanding the diameters of the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c to caulk them together as shown in FIG. 13.

In this caulking process, the stepped portions 20 a of the jigs 20 contact with the inner surfaces of the stepped portions 13 d of the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c to be pressed thereon, thereby the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c being caulked with the tank plate 8 at its communicating holes 8 b and 8 c, so that the stepped portions 13 d of the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c attached firmly to the outer surface of the tank plate 8.

The header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c may be caulked so that they are increasingly expanded in diameter to be plastic-deformed toward their end portions.

Accordingly, it provides a good workability, since the jig 20 can be easily inserted from the opening side of the first divided member 13 to expand the diameters of the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c, and there is no need for another jig to fix the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c to the tank plate 8 in the embodiment.

The stepped portions 13 d of the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c are contacted to the outer surface of the tank plate 8, which can provide easy setting of the insertion lengths of the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c into the first and second communicating holes 8 a and 8 b, with easily positioning them.

Incidentally, the first divided member 13 may be fixed to the tank plate 8 by means described above before the tank plate 8 is temporally assembled with the heat exchanging main part 1. In this case, the jig 20 may be inserted from the inner side of the tank plate 8 to caulk the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c with the tank plate 8 at its communicating holes 8 b and 8 c.

Next the second divided member 14 is partially inserted into and is contacted with the first divided member 13 so that they are temporally assembled with each other to form the coupling member 11, and then the reduced diameter portion 12 d of the adapter member 12 is inserted into the upper opening of the adapter-member connecting portion 11 a of the coupling member 11.

In this stage, the side edge portions 14 a of the second divided member 14 are fitted into the fitting portions 13 e of the first divided portion 13, thereby the first and second divided members 13 and 14 being positioned to each other.

Next the heat exchanging main part 1 is temporally assembled with the adapter member 12 and the first and second divided members 13 and 14, and then it is conveyed into a not-shown heat furnace, in which the heat exchanging main part 1 is heat-treated to be brazed at the connecting portions thereof.

In this brazing process, brazing material is placed on the inner surfaces of the first divided member 13 and the second divided member 14 to braze the first and second divided members 13 and 14 and the adapter member 12 with each other, thereby the connecting portions of these three members 12, 13 and 14 being firmly fixed together by using less amount of brazing material.

The brazing material may be placed on appropriate portions, for example on the adapter member 12.

The both divided members 13 and 14, particularly the first divided member 13 which directly contacts with the tank plate 8, are manufactured by using a press forming process, thereby being light in weight and low in heat mass. This decreases heat influence on the tank plate 8 in the brazing process to ensure stable fixing thereof.

As shown in FIG. 11, a space O is produced between the outer surface of the first header 4 and the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c because of the existence of the cylindrical header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c projecting from the outer surface of the coupling member 11. This decreases contact area therebetween, thereby providing smooth rise and fall in temperature of the first header 4 in the brazing process.

The stepped portions 13 d of the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c of the coupling member 11 contact with the outer surface of the tank plate 8, and they have cross sections in elliptic shapes, which enables the coupling member 11 and the adapter member 12 to be more stably fixed to each other, relative to those with cross sections shaped in a circle, in and after the brazing process.

Next the groove 15 b formed on the connecting pipe 15 of the receiver tank 2 and the groove 12 b of the adapter member 12 are screwed together so that the lower surface of the flange portion 15 a contacts with the upper end portion of the adapter member 12, thereby fixing the receiver tank 2 and the adapter member 12 to each other. Thus the heat exchanger HA with the receiver tank 2 is completed.

In this screwing process, the screwing work can be carried out by using a not-shown screw wrench, holding the flange portion 15 a of the connecting pipe 15 of the receiver tank 2, to be turned. This can avoid the brazing material placed on a periphery thereof from being cracked and/or destroyed.

The lower surface of the flange portion 15 contacts with the upper end portion of the adapter member 12, which can prevent the connecting pipe 15 and the adapter member 12 from being overscrewed. Therefore, the receiver tank 2 can be easily attached to and detached from the adapter member 12, and the types and sizes of the receiver tanks can be easily designed and changed according to a type and a core size of a heat exchanging main part. When the receiver tank 2 is damaged, it can be easily detached to be changed or repaired, which can improve its maintenance.

Next the operation of the heat exchanger HA with the receiver tank 2 of the embodiment will be described.

The heat exchanger HA with the receiver tank 2 of the embodiment is mounted on a not-shown motor vehicle. A circulating medium at a temperature of approximately 70° C. enters the first room R1 of the second header 5 through the connecting hole 16 a of the first connector P1, which is shown in FIG. 1, from a not-shown compressor side. Then the circulating medium is cooled down due to a heat exchange between the fins 6 b and a wind generated during vehicle running and/or a forced wind generated by a not-shown fan while it flows through the tubes 6 a corresponding to the first room R1 and the second room R2 of the core part 6, and then it flows into the second room R2 of the first header 4.

The circulating medium entering the second room R2 flows into the third room R3 of the second header 5 through the tubes 6 a corresponding to the second room R2 and the third room R3 of the core part 6. The circulating medium entering the third room R3 is cooled down due to the heat exchange between the fins 6 b and the wind generated during vehicle running and/or the forced wind generated by the fan while it flows through the tubes 6 a corresponding to the third room R3 and the fourth room R4 of the core part 6, and then it flows into the fourth room R4 of the first header 4.

The circulating medium entering the fourth room R4 flows into the inside of the receiver tank 2 through the header connecting portion 13 b of the coupling member 11 to be gas-liquid separated by the inner structural parts thereof, and then it is discharged into the fifth room R5 through the header connecting portion 13 c.

The circulating medium entering the fifth room R5 is cooled down to a temperature of approximately 45° C. due to the heat exchange between the fins 6 b and the wind generated during vehicle running and/or the forced wind generated by the fan while it flows through the tubes 6 a corresponding to the fifth room R5 and the sixth room R6 of the core part 6

The circulating medium entering the sixth room R6 is discharged to a not-shown evaporator through the connecting hole 16 b of the second connector P2. As described above, as shown in FIG. 1, the heat exchanging main part 1 functions as a condenser which is divided into a concentrating part E1 and a supercooling part E2, where the concentrating part E1 corresponds to the first room R1 to the fourth room R4 and is arranged at its upper side and, and the supercooling part E2 corresponds to the fifth room R5 and the sixth room R6 and is arranged at the lower side.

Next the effects of the heat exchanger HA with the receiver tank 2 of the embodiment will be described.

The heat exchanger HA with the receiver tank 2 of the embodiment includes the heat exchanging main part 1, which is divided into the concentrating part E1 and the supercooling part E2, and the receiver tank 2 fluidically connected with the concentrating part E1 and the supercooling part E2 of the first header 4 through the connecting member 3. The heat exchanging main part 1 has the plurality of tubes 6 a that is arranged between the first header 4 and the second header 5 so that the both end portions thereof are fluidically connected with the first and second headers 4 and 5, respectively. The connecting member 3 consists of the coupling member 11 and the adapter member 12, where the coupling member 11 has the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c fluidically connected with the concentrating part E1 and the supercooling part E2 of the first header 4. The adapter member 12 is fluidically connected with the coupling member 11 and is detachably attached with the receiver tank 2. The coupling member 11 consists of the first divided member 13 and the second divided member 14, where the first divided member 13 is formed with the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c, and the second divided member 14 is coupled with the first divided member 14.

Therefore, in the embodiment, the receiver tank 2 can be detachably attached to the heat exchanging main part 1. In addition, the connecting member 3, which connects the receiver tank 2 and the heat exchanging main part 1 with each other, can be decreased in its manufacturing cost and weight because of the removal of the unavoidable residual material on the portions thereof unnecessary for its function.

In the heat exchanger HA with the receiver tank 2 of the embodiment, at least the first divided member 13 is made from the metal plate by using the press forming process, which enables the connecting member 3 to be manufactured easily and at a low cost.

The first divided member 13 is formed with the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c, which can improve brazing, sealing and reliability relative to a coupling member 11 with the header connecting parts separated therefrom.

The connecting portions of the first and second divided members 13 and 14 are formed at positions apart from the first header 4, which can improve workability in repairing the coupling member 11 when the connecting portions are cracked and/or destroyed.

The first divided member 13 and the second divided member 14 are formed like the semi-circular cylinders having the bottom portions, and they are coupled with each other to form the coupling member 11 that has the bottom and is formed like the circular cylinder shape, the coupling member 11 being formed with the adapter-member connecting portion 11 a for receiving the adapter member 12.

Therefore, the adapter-member connecting portion 11 a can be formed easily and at a low cost because the first and second divided members 13 and 14 are formed separately from each other to be coupled with each other.

In addition, the bottom of the coupling member 11 does not need to be closed by using an additional lid part. Therefore, its manufacturing cost can be also held down because the number of parts thereof can be decreased.

The concentrating part E1 and the supercooling part E2 of the first header 4 are formed with the communicating holes 8 b and 8 c, respectively. The header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c are projected toward the first header 4 to be inserted into the communicating holes 8 b and 8 c of the tank plate 8, respectively, and they are formed at their intermediate portions with the stepped portions 13 d that have the vertical surfaces and are contacted with the outer surface of the first header 4.

Therefore, the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c can be fixed to the tank plate 8 of the first header 4, being positioned relative to the first header 4. In addition, they can be firmly fixed due to increase in contact area thereof, and accordingly the receiver tank 2 can be stably fixed and supported.

The header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c have cross sections like the ellipse shapes, which can increase the contact area between the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c and the first header 4. Therefore, the adapter member 12 can be stably fixed.

The space O is formed between the header connecting portions 13 b and 13 c and the outer surface of the first header 4, which can decrease the heat influence on the first header 4 in the brazing process. Therefore, they can be stably brazed with each other.

The positioning means, corresponding to the fitting portions 13 e and the edge portions 14 a, is provided, at the connecting portions of the first divided member 13 and the second divided member 14, to position them.

Therefore, the first divided member 13 and the second divided member 14 can be fixed with each other, being positioned properly.

It is understood that the invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment but that various changes and/or modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and/or the scope of the present invention.

For example, the first and second divided members 13 and 14 are manufactured by using a press forming process in the embodiment described above, and only the first divided member 13 is press-formed and the second divided member 14 may be formed by using other process.

The brazed portions of the heat exchanger with the receiver tank of the embodiment are not limited to those of the embodiment, and their positions may be changed appropriately.

INDUSTRIAL AVAILABILITY

The heat exchanger with the receive tank of the present invention is not limited to those for motor vehicles, and it is available for others. 

1. A heat exchanger with a receiver tank comprising: a heat exchanging part having a pair of headers which is divided into a concentrating part and a supercooling part by a plurality of partition plates, and a plurality of tubes which is arranged between the headers and has both end portions fluidically connected with the headers, respectively; and a receiver tank that is fluidically connected with the concentrating part and the supercooling part of one of the headers through a connecting member, wherein the connecting member has a coupling member and an adapter member, the coupling member having header connecting portions that are fluidically connected with the concentrating part and the supercooling part of the one of the headers, respectively, and the adapter member being fluidically connected with the coupling member and the receiver tank and detachably attached to the receiver tank, and wherein the coupling member has a first divided member and a second divided member coupled with the first divided member.
 2. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein at least the first divided member of the first and second divided members is a press formed product made of a metal plate.
 3. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the first divided member and the second divided member are formed like semi-circular cylinders with bottom portions and are coupled with each other to form the coupling member having the bottom portions and shaped like a circular cylinder, wherein the coupling member is formed at an opening end portion thereof with an adapter-member connecting portion for receiving the adapter member.
 4. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the concentrating part and the supercooling part of the one of the headers are formed with communicating holes, respectively, and the header connecting portions are formed like cylinders projecting toward the one of the headers, the header connecting portions being formed with stepped portions having vertical surfaces at intermediate portions thereof, and wherein the header connecting portions are fixed to the one of the headers, being inserted into the communicating holes, and the stepped portions contacting with an outer surface of the one of the headers.
 5. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the header connecting portions are formed to have cross sections shaped in ellipses.
 6. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein a space is formed between the header connecting portions and an outer surface of the one of the headers.
 7. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein a connecting portion of the first divided member and the second divided member is provided with a positioning means for positioning the first and second divided members relative to each other.
 8. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the first divided member and the second divided member are formed like semi-circular cylinders with bottom portions and are coupled with each other to form the coupling member having the bottom portions and shaped like a circular cylinder, wherein the coupling member is formed at an opening end portion thereof with an adapter-member connecting portion for receiving the adapter member.
 9. The heat exchanger according to claim 8, wherein the concentrating part and the supercooling part of the one of the headers are formed with communicating holes, respectively, and the header connecting portions are formed like cylinders projecting toward the one of the headers, the header connecting portions being formed with stepped portions having vertical surfaces at intermediate portions thereof, and wherein the header connecting portions are fixed to the one of the headers, being inserted into the communicating holes, and the stepped portions contacting with an outer surface of the one of the headers.
 10. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein the header connecting portions are formed to have cross sections shaped in ellipses.
 11. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein a space is formed between the header connecting portions and an outer surface of the one of the headers.
 12. The heat exchanger according to claim 3, wherein a connecting portion of the first divided member and the second divided member is provided with a positioning means for positioning the first and second divided members relative to each other.
 13. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein the concentrating part and the supercooling part of the one of the headers are formed with communicating holes, respectively, and the header connecting portions are formed like cylinders projecting toward the one of the headers, the header connecting portions being formed with stepped portions having vertical surfaces at intermediate portions thereof, and wherein the header connecting portions are fixed to the one of the headers, being inserted into the communicating holes, and the stepped portions contacting with an outer surface of the one of the headers.
 14. The heat exchanger according to claim 13, wherein the header connecting portions are formed to have cross sections shaped in ellipses.
 15. The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein a space is formed between the header connecting portions and an outer surface of the one of the headers.
 16. The heat exchanger according to claim 12, wherein a connecting portion of the first divided member and the second divided member is provided with a positioning means for positioning the first and second divided members relative to each other.
 17. The heat exchanger according to claim 2, wherein the header connecting portions are formed to have cross sections shaped in ellipses.
 18. The heat exchanger according to claim 17, wherein a connecting portion of the first divided member and the second divided member is provided with a positioning means for positioning the first and second divided members relative to each other.
 19. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein a space is formed between the header connecting portions and an outer surface of the one of the headers.
 20. The heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein a connecting portion of the first divided member and the second divided member is provided with a positioning means for positioning the first and second divided members relative to each other. 